Recently, the Supreme Court was asked to reject the registration of an organisation for gay rights because it would erode family values and harm society.
Our families are and will remain very diverse. We have those who abuse drugs, others in rehab, abled differently, sex workers and even LGBTQ.
However, these people are not accepted in society despite their families valuing them and respecting them.
Stop silencing people because of family values.
Families are evolving and will continue to due to challenges and opportunities posed by social, health amongst other issues.
The Non-Governmental Organizations Coordination Board told the Supreme court that organizations can be registered to protect the rights of persons but not to promote activities that violate any laws or policies.
Being queer, LGBTQ+ is not being different.
Registering of initiatives and organizations that offer assistance to sexual and gender minorities persons should not be stalled based on family values, national interests and in turn discriminate against sections of the community.
“Its registration will harm family values and these values are protected in the Constitution. Approaches by western countries to impose their values on us will not be accepted but resisted by African countries,” lawyer Kanjama representing the NGO board said.
The board is challenging a decision by the Court of Appeal that upheld a 2015 High Court decision compelling it to register The National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission as an NGO.
LGBTQ+ persons in Kenya face high rates of sexual and gender-based violence and face obstacles accessing justice and rehabilitative mental health services.
Criminalisation, discrimination, and violence inhibit access to HIV prevention and treatment.
These organizations do offer access to information, services, reproductive health services, justice amongst other solutions to the LGBTQ+ persons from the rampant and unending social, health issues including the growing cyberbullying and violence towards them.
Allegations of misappropriation of funds, poor leadership, misplaced priorities in key arms of government threaten national interest and family values as well.
Sexual and gender minorities persons are in our communities.
They do not want special rights because special rights are not basic human rights. They all deserve a listening year, freedom of expression, good health and access to education.
Government bodies and officials should not be allowed to impose their personal religious beliefs and values on a whole country.
Let's not violate their rights because we believe we are better than them or because our family values differ. Let's accommodate them
Sexual reproductive health and rights youth expert
Edited by Kiilu Damaris